types of data, method and research design Flashcards
research methods
techniques for collecting data such as interviews or questionnaires
ethical
relating to moral principles that state what is right and wrong
research participants
the people who researcher’s study
data
information that a researcher draws on and/or generates during a study
primary data
new information produced by the researcher during the research process
secondary data
pre-existing information used by the researcher
quantitative data
information in the form of statistics
qualitative data
all data (such as quotations from interview participants) that is not in numerical form
official statistics
numerical data produced by government departments and agencies
validity
data are valid if they represent a true or accurate measurement
reliability
data are reliable when different researchers using the same methods obtain the same results
positivism
an approach based partly on the methods used in the natural sciences. It favours quantitative data.
interpretivism
an approach that explores people’s lived experiences and the meanings they attach to their actions. It favours qualitative data.
correlation
a statistical link between two or more variables or factors
generalisation
a statement based on a relatively small group which is then applied to a larger group
representative sample
a subgroup that is typical of its population
population
the group under study from which a sample is selected
social survey
systematic collection of the same type of data from a fairly large number of people
hypothesis
a testable statement about the relationship between two or more variables
self-completion questionnaire
a questionnaire that the respondent fills in
closed questions
questions in which the range of responses is fixed by the researcher
open questions
questions which allow the respondent to answer in their own words
ethical issue
a concern with morals and how to conduct morally acceptable research
pilot study
a small-scale study to check the suitability of the methods to be used in the main study
operationalise
translate abstract concepts into a form that can be measured
coded
answers are classified into various categories
response rate
the percentage of the sample that participates in the research
sample
a subgroup of research participants from the larger group to be studied
replication
repeating an experiment or research study under the same conditions
structured interview
a questionnaire which the interviewer reads out and fills in
interviewer bias
the effect of the interviewer on a research participant’s answers
interview bias
the effect of the interview situation itself on a participant’s responses
social desirability effect
bias resulting from a research participant’s desire to reflect in their responses what is generally seen as the right way to behave
laboratory experiment
an experiment conducted in a specially designed setting
field experiment
an experiment conducted in everyday social settings
variables
factors that affect behaviour. Variables can vary, for example, temperature can increase or decrease
experimental effect
any unintended impact of the experiment on a participant
experimenter bias
the unintended effect of the experimenter on a participant
informed consent
the participant only agrees to participate in the research once the sociologist has explained fully what the research is about and why it is being undertaken
Hawthorne effect
changes in participants’ behaviour resulting from an awareness that they are taking part in an experiment
non-directive interviewing
an interviewing technique that seeks to avoid leading participants to answer in particular ways
rapport
a friendly, trusting and understanding relationship
moderator
an interviewer who guides focus group discussions
participant observation
a qualitative method in which the researcher gathers data by joining a group and taking part in its activities
non-participant observation
an observation-based study in which the researcher doesn’t join those they are studying
key informant
a member of the group being studies who provides important information and often sponsors the researcher
observer effect
this occurs in an observation-based study when the observer’s known presence changes the behaviour of the people being studied
objectivity
a value-free, impartial, unbiased view
observation schedule
instructions which tell the observer what to look for and how to record it
ethical guidelines
guidelines provided by social science organisations and universities on how to conduct morally acceptable research covering issues such as informed consent and confidentiality
trend
the general direction in which statistics on something (such as the divorce rate) change or move over time
personal documents
letters, diaries, notes and photographs
historical documents
documents from the past
semiology
the analysis of signs
research ethics committees
bodies in universities that scrutinise research proposals
